Acetylene manifold



March 24, 1936. G. M. DEMING 2,034,750

ACETYLENE MANIFOLD Filed March 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR 4mm 2 March 24, 1936. E N 2,034,750

ACETYLENE MANIFOLD Filed March 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 1 .2. W

gg 11 4 25 I Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACETYLENE MANIFOLD Application March 15,

Claims.

This invention relates to acetylene manifolds of the type used to connect a plurality of cylinders to a. service line.

When large quantities of gas are required for 5 an acetylene service line, and the gas is supplied from cylinders, it is necessary to use a number of cylinders at the same time so that the rate of flow from the individual cylinders will not be excessive and remove quantities of the acetone, in which the gas in the cylinders is dissolved. Moreover the filling material in the acetylene cylinders that is saturated with the acetone-acetylene solution offers an appreciable resistance to a rapid discharge of acetylene from the cylinder so that it becomes impossible to withdraw the major portion of the acetylene, if the rate of discharge per cylinder is too high.

The cylinders are connected to a manifold, and the acetylene is supplied to the manifold at the high pressure at which it comes from the cylinders. A regulator at the outlet end of the manifold reduces the gas pressure to a proper value for use in the service line.

Acetylene manifolds present problems in safety. The presence of acetylene in large voids, at the high pressure used in storage cylinders, is dangerous. Acetylene is explosive, and the explosions, whether internal combustions or decompositions, result from various causes not completely understood. Each branch of the manifold has a cut-off valve, but the connection of cylinders having differences in pressures adds to the safety problem.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved acetylene manifold, and comprises novel features and combinations of elements which make the manifold safe without decreasing its efliciency in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof: I

Fig. 1 is a front view, partly broken away, showing an acetylene manifold embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one end of the manifold when viewed from the front 5 Fig. 4 is a vertical view partly in section and partly in elevation on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the flash-arresters;

1933, Serial No. 660,819

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the righthand half of the manifold shown in Fig. 1.

A header or manifold II has a T fitting l2 which connects the manifold with a pressure regulator [4. From the pressure regulator the gas passes downward through a pipe l6, and check valve I8 (Fig. 2), to a hydraulic flash chamber 20.

The flash chamber 20 is of conventional design and has a T fitting 22 connected to its upper end. A service line 24 connects with the fitting 22. A pressure gauge 25 connected with an elbow of the service line 24 indicates the gas pressure in the service line.

A relief valve 26 'is also connected with the fitting 22, and a vent pipe 28 extends from the relief valve to the outside atmosphere. The relief valve opens automatically to permit the escape of gas when the pressure in the service line rises above a given value, and the relief valve can be opened manually by a handle 30 for purging the system of air when it is first put into use or after a long shut-down.

The manifold l l is supported by a beam connected to posts 36 which extend upward from bases 38. The hydraulic flash chamber 20 rests on a beam 40 which has its ends clamped to one of the posts 36.

The manifold I l is made of a number of spaced fittirgs joined by sections of pipe. End fittings and T fittings 41 are connected by pipe sections 48, and other pipe sections and 5| connect the T fittings 41 with the opposite ends of the T fitting l2. Each of the fittings 45 and 4'! has a boss on its bottom wall, and screws extend through the beam 35 and thread into these bosses to secure the fittings to thebeam 35. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connection of one end fitting 45 to the beam 35.

A cut-01f valve connects with each of the fittings 45 and 41. A cylinder 62 is connectedwith each cut-off valve 60 through a flash-arrester and pipe 66.

One of the flash-arresters 65 is shown enlarged and in section in Fig. 5, and comprises a casing having passages 61 opening through its opposite ends. The casing contains finely divided material, such as sand 68, confined between wire mesh screens 69. One of the passages 61 communicates with the acetylene storage cylinder 62 through the pipe 66. A portion of this passage is tapered toward its outer end and a ball check valve 10 is held in this tapered portion of the passage by a spring H, which is compressed between the ball check valve and a. perforate partition 12 within the flash-arrester casing. The ball check valve is preferably of stainless steel, and it is not necessary that it have a gas-tight seat in the tapered passage.

Each check valve in permits substantially free flow of gas from the corresponding acetylene storage cylinder, but prevents any rapid flow of gas into this cylinder in case the cylinder is empty, or only partially charged, and is in communication with the manifold at the same time as a full cylinder. The function of the sand 68 and wire mesh screens 69 is to quench any fiame which may, under abnormal conditions, penetrate the system as far as the fiash-arresters. The check valve Ill cooperates with the sand and screens in stopping flame propagation, because the check valve will close and stop gas flow through the fiash-arrester when a flame in the manifold causes a sudden pressure rise in the flash arrester.

The manifold is intended to be operated with the valves open so that all of the cylinders supply acetylene to the system at the same time.

However, it can be used with gas supplied from\ two cylinders at a time, and when so used empty cylinders on the idle manifold branches can be replaced by full cylinders while the manifold is in use. If during either mode of operation, an empty or partially charged cylinder is inadvertently put in communication with the manifold at the same time as a full cylinder, the check valve 10 prevents a heavy flow of acetylene from the full cylinder to the empty or partially charged cylinder. Such an excessive flow not only would remove much acetone in liquid form from the full cylinder but it would also tend to develop a hazardous temperature in the low pressure cylinder.

A plurality of'wires 80 extend substantially the entire length of the manifold. The bunch of wires is of such size that it substantially fills the pipe sections of the manifold. The presence of acetylene at ordinary cylinder pressures in any large voids is dangerous, and the wires 80 prevent the existence of such voids in the pipe sections of the manifold, and yet afford a comparatively free longitudinal path for the flow of gas. The bunch of wires 80 also presents a large metallic surface for absorbing heat which may arise from any incipient decomposition of acetylene.

The space within the fittings at the manifold branches, which is larger in cross-sectional area than the pipe sections of the manifold, is not adequately filled by the bunch of wires. This additional space is filled with shot 85, preferably steel burnishing balls. The manifold branches are filled with shot up to the cut-off valves 60. Shot is also located in the T fitting 12 through which gas flows from the manifold.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, but changes and modifications for connection to a plurality of cylinders in which acetylene is stored under pressure; means to prevent the existance of large voids in the manifold and fittings, said means including a bunch of wires within the manifold extending lengthwise of the manifold for most of the length of said manifold, the cross-section of the bunch of wires being substantially equal to the crosssection of the inside of the manifold between the fittings; and shot. within the fittings to fill up space not occupied by the wire.

2. The combination with an acetylene manifold for connecting a gas service line with a plurality of cylinders containing acetylene under pressure, said manifold being of substantially uniform inside diameter throughout most of its part of the manifold having said uniform inside diameter and partially filling the other portions of said manifold; and shot filling the additional space in the portions of the manifold having the greater cross-sectional area.

3. The combination of a manifold having branches at spaced points along its length; means for connecting each branch to a cylinder in which acetylene is stored under pressure, said means including a cut-off valve at each branch of the manifold; a bunch of wires extending lengthwise in the manifold and substantially filling the inside of said manifold between the branches; and shot in the branches to fill the space between the wires and the cut-off valve at each branch.

4. The combination of an acetylene manifold comprising a plurality of spaced pipe fittings connected by pipe sections; a cut-off valve on each of a number of said fittings for connecting the manifold with cylinders in which acetylene is stored under pressure; a bunch of wires in the manifold and extending substantially the entire length of said manifold, the bunch of wires being continuous and of sufiicient size to substantially fill the pipe sections; and shot in the fittings filling the space not occupied by the bunch of wires, the shot extending up to the cut-off valves.

5. Apparatus for connecting a plurality of acetylene storage cylinders with a service line, including a manifold, the interior of which is of different cross-sectional area at various points throughout its length, a bunch of wires extending lengthwise in the manifold for most of the length of said manifold, the cross-section of the bunch of wires being substantially equal to the cross-section of the manifold along its portions of smallest volume, shot filling the interior volume of the manifold not occupied by the wire so that there are no large voids in the manifold, means for connecting the manifold directly to acetylene storage cylinders so that the acetylene is supplied to the manifold at the pressure in the cylinders, and means including a pressure reducing valve through which acetylene from the manifold is supplied to a service line.

GEORGE M. DEMING. 

